Express-Scripts plans $56 million expansion and 1,500 new jobs over five years

St. Louis is headed to the top ten in college attainment.

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A pillar of our economic development strategy is that, “We will win on today’s regional strengths in focused economic clusters. Explore in detail the four sectors that we believe will shape our region’s future.

“The Banker” … from Central Park West to Washington Avenue

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We’ve condensed a detailed three-year plan into a single paragraph we call our Strategy Statement. It’s all about priorities and direction.

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Our research team has probably answered almost any question that could be asked regarding the St. Louis region. If you can't find it in our Regional Data section, please send a note to Tim Alexander at talexander@stlregionalchamber.com.

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Inner City Capital Connections Program has come to St. Louis. To date, this program has helped 837 different businesses raise over $1.32 billion in capital and create over 11,000 jobs in the inner city. Read more about the program on our blog.

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We believe nothing is more important in St. Louis than achieving Top 10 status in college attainment among the nation's largest metros. Visit www.topteneducation.org to follow our progress.

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If your company represents growth potential for the region -- or you know of other companies that do -- we'd be pleased to help however we can. Please contact Jim Alexander at jalexander@stlregionalchamber.com

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St. Louis is home to 16 Fortune 1000 companies and some of the largest private firms in the U.S.; but don't overlook the ever increasing number of high growth small-to-medium enterprises and startups. Click here for a quick summary.

Greater St. Louis is a major hub for aerospace manufacturing, research, and development. Boeing Defense, Space, and Security is the largest regional manufacturer with over 13,000 area employees. In August and September 2018, Boeing won two major contracts that total $10 billion, further deepening their connection to Greater St. Louis.

In August, Boeing won a $805 million contract to develop four unmanned drones—the MQ-25A Stingray—which will be used to refuel fighter jets and extend their combat range for the U.S. Navy. These drones can travel 500 nautical miles to deliver 14,000 pounds of fuel (1), which is a technological breakthrough in U.S. Navy history. Approximately 45 percent of development will be done here in St. Louis according to the U.S. Department of Defense, and delivery is expected by 2024.(2) There is the potential for the Stingray program to grow into a $13 billion fleet of 72 drones if the first round of four drones prove satisfactory to the U.S. Navy.

Their next victory secured a $9.2 billion contract with the U.S. Air Force to produce the next generation of T-X training jets. The current plan calls for 351 T-X aircraft and 46 simulators, however, the award can cover up to 475 T-X jets and 120 simulators and associated ground equipment.(3)

The first five T-X aircraft and seven simulators will arrive at Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, in 2023. Initial operating capability is planned to launch by the end of 2024, and full operational capability by 2034.This contract is expected to generate over 1,800 jobs throughout the Greater St. Louis region.(4)

As employers increasingly seek a skilled workforce, these contracts validate that St. Louis can compete and win in advanced manufacturing. St. Louis continues to be a world-class center for advanced design and manufacturing of fighter aircraft.

Boeing Company announced today that if it wins a national competition to produce the T-X Air Force training jet, their employees would assemble the aircraft here in St. Louis. This decision to build the aircraft in St. Louis further supports the St. Louis region’s leadership in modern aviation innovation and aerospace manufacturing.

This is a huge deal for St. Louis. The contract would keep the St. Louis Boeing assembly line open and support 1,800 jobs. The initial contract includes 350 airplanes, with a potential for additional units as more of the U.S. military’s planes age into retirement. The U.S. Air Force is expected to award the estimated $16 billion contract late 2017. The St. Louis workforce will be prepared; Boeing has partnered with St. Louis Community College for an assembly mechanic training program for other aircraft that has already led to over 400 jobs in St. Louis.

Boeing, the St. Louis Regional Chamber, Missouri Governor Eric Greitens, Missouri Senators Claire McCaskill and Roy Blunt, Congressmen William “Lacy” Clay and Ann Wagner, and many other economic development and community leaders from both Illinois and Missouri gathered to celebrate Boeing’s decision to base its T-X operations here in our region. In this day and age, it is rare to see everyone come together for a common purpose, even for something as important as jobs and economic growth. This was truly a regional effort to help secure St. Louis’ future in aerospace manufacturing and help us become a more prosperous future.

We need to see more of these innovative, high-tech, St. Louis-designed and built aircraft flying over our skies. Let’s get it done.